David Stone, Karla Hughes and Adrian Dykes join White & Case as partners in London

Global law firm White & Case LLP has expanded its Global Intellectual Property Practice in London with a team led by partner David Stone and that includes partners Karla Hughes and Adrian Dykes.

“The largest intellectual property disputes are often fought in parallel in the US and EMEA, so the addition of an elite team of intellectual property litigators in London led by David Stone will be of huge benefit to our global clients,” said White & Case partner Yar Chaikovsky, Head of the Firm’s Global Intellectual Property Practice. “Coupled with our leading intellectual property litigation practice in the US, our enhanced cross-Atlantic capability will further strengthen White & Case as the go-to firm for international intellectual property litigation.”

David is an intellectual property litigator and solicitor advocate who advises clients on trade marks, registered and unregistered designs and copyright law issues before the High Court of England and Wales and the Court of Justice of the European Union. He also sits part time as a Deputy High Court Judge, hearing cases in the Chancery Division of the High Court, including the Patents Court and the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court. David brings nearly 30 years of experience and joins White & Case from A&O Shearman, where he was a partner and previously global head of intellectual property at legacy Allen & Overy.

Karla advises clients on trade marks and design law matters before the European Union Intellectual Property Office, UK Intellectual Property Office and the Court of Justice of the European Union, as well as advising clients through the lifecycle of their brands on portfolio management, clearance and multi-jurisdictional disputes. Karla joins White & Case from A&O Shearman, where she was head of trade mark and design prosecution.

Adrian advises clients on contentious and non-contentious intellectual property law matters, including trade marks, passing off, copyright and registered and unregistered designs and advertising law, including global trade mark portfolio management and enforcement.  He has represented clients before the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, the High Court and Court of Appeal of England and Wales and the European Union Intellectual Property Office and UK Intellectual Property Office. Adrian joins White & Case from A&O Shearman, where he was a senior associate.

“This is a great team that can hit the ground running advising clients on the full spectrum of their contentious intellectual property matters,” said Inigo Esteve, White & Case Office Executive Partner in London. “David is a market leading intellectual property partner with in-house as well as extensive litigation experience. His addition, together with Karla and Adrian, will be a major asset to the Firm.”

White & Case partner and Vice Chair Oliver Brettle said: “The growth of our disputes practices globally remains a strategic focus for the Firm, and this includes intellectual property litigation. Since the arrival of partners Yar Chaikovsky and Phil Ou in Silicon Valley and Anna Naydonov in Washington, DC at the start of 2023 we have been building out our intellectual property practice, harnessing our global footprint which provides a unique platform on which to build a strong practice that spans all our regions. Due to the importance of English law for international companies, London is a central component to that practice.”

The arrival of David, Karla and Adrian follows the addition of intellectual property and disputes partner Shinsuke Yakura in Tokyo in September 2024 and the arrival of intellectual property partners Melissa Anyetei in Chicago, Adam Greenfield and Mark Davies in Washington, DC, Bethany Hills and Sapna Palla in New York and Michael Evans in London in 2024. In 2023, in addition to Yar, Phil and Anna, White & Case welcomed intellectual property partners David Okano and Bruce Yen in Silicon Valley, and Jordan Coyle in Washington, DC.

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